Meaningful Songs: Agalloch - Sowilo Rune

I'm  not a huge Agalloch fan, although I enjoy their style of progressive folky post/black metal.

And The White EP was really the thing that got me most, even though it has very little to no metal on it.

This piece is so bloody sad sounding, and I have always had this weird feeling about it, The White EP and Friday afternoons.

So Melancholy and beautiful.

Also The Wickerman samples and Christopher Lee add a lot to the mood/vibe/atmosphere of it.

The Whole EP I love, but this is by far the piece that I take the most from.

Arch / Matheos - Winter Ethereal (2018-2019)

2nd single "Wanderlust"



haven't heard yet, will listen after work, etc. Bugs me a lot of other sites got promos, but whatevs, May 10th is only a 1-week from Friday (and an Album Stream probably will show up soon, although I also preordered).


Yep.

At work = can't listen yet.

Dark/Gloomy cover art. Almost reminds me of like an Agalloch album cover. And the title "Winter Ethereal" sounds rather Agalloch, Opeth or Scandinavian Metal esque.

Anyway, very excited for May 10th, or even just later tonight to hear "Straight and Narrow" the 1st single (available on multiple formats: facebook, youtube, itunes, bandcamp, etc).

Love me some John Arch!

edit: Yeah "Straight and Narrow" is outstanding. Album of the Year?..maybe

Preorder
Bandcamp 

Press Release on FB 

Arch / Matheos reveals details for new album, 'Winter Ethereal'; launches video for first single, "Straight and Narrow"

Winter Ethereal will be released May 10th on Metal Blade Records. A video for the song "Straight and Narrow" is available now for streaming. Watch the video and pre-order the album in various bundle packages at http://www.metalblade.com/archmatheos

In progressive metal circles, the names of guitarist Jim Matheos and vocalist John Arch are spoken with due reverence. With the former having been a driving force in Fates Warning for thirty-five years, and the latter the original front-man of that band, they also have a single seminal work under the Arch / Matheos banner, 2011's Sympathetic Resonance. In 2019, they have reunited to follow that record up with Winter Ethereal, a more stylistically varied and perhaps deeper collection that explores a lot of sonic territory over the course of nine immersive tracks. "This stems from both of us trying to step out of our comfort zones a bit, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes being pushed," states Matheos. "Having worked together so many times, it would be easy to fall into the same way of doing things, and I think we were both interested in exploring some new areas." Arch concurs and adds: "Each song is notably different from the next, and nothing sounds repetitive. It is not a concept album, but somehow after a full listen from start to finish, there does seem to be continuity between the songs that I can't describe. At over an hour long, I think the fans will agree that it is a full listening experience."

Winter Ethereal will be available in the following formats:
-digipak-CD
-black / white marbled swirl (US exclusive - limited to 700 copies)
-clear w/ blue smoke (US exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
-180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
-blue / red marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
-ice blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
-white vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 100 copies)
-white / black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 400 copies)
* exclusive bundles with shirts, plus digital options are also available!

Winter Ethereal track-listing


1. Vermilion Moons
2. Wanderlust
3. Solitary Man
4. Wrath of the Universe
5. Tethered
6. Straight and Narrow
7. Pitch Black Prism
8. Never in Your Hands
9. Kindred Spirits

TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB RIP 11/22/17

Facebook

After 19 years of business, The Triple Rock will be closing after November 22nd.
We are proud to have been part of an amazing time in the Twin Cities Music scene. We have had more than our fair share of legendary performances and events, watched numerous local artists get their start on our stage, and hosted the Minneapolis debuts of countless national acts.
We want to thank all the customers, bands, and artists who have been a part of this place over the years.
Most of all we want to thank our current staff and those who have worked here in the past. We could not have done it without you!
We still have a lot of great events coming up, so come on down and celebrate The Triple Rock!

2 days late, and not enough time to rant about this right now, but I wanted to share it and I did spend time instead researching most if not all of the shows I attended at The Triple Rock Social Club.

This REALLY REALLY SUCKS, but at least it sounds like the reason is for the best.

I just hate the fact there's not really a venue in town now I consider a favorite for Rock Shows, that definitely is preferable to First Avenue, and really, their whole MONOPOLY of venues. But maybe something will pop up.

The once great,  Varsity Theater is supposedly coming back soon, so that may help, but I still hate the way Dinkytown has become all about Corporate Housing for students and the environment feels less intimate.

maybe more l8tr.

20 shows, and other than having my cc taken per an IPhone App at 1 (as many others did, including the Merch guy himself), and an issue or 2 (Horse the Band's exceeding stage time/cutting into BTBAM's set?), nearly every show was an enjoyable experience. As I've said, many other venues could learn from The Triple Rock, but I question whether they will. Even down to the way many people in the crowd at other shows never seem to shut up during the opening acts. I don't have any memory of that EVER happening at The Triple Rock, which for 20 shows, says a lot.



2007
Between the Buried and Me
The Receiving End of Sirens
Russian Circles

2008
Baroness/Genghis Tron

2009
The Dear Hunter/Felix Culpa

2010
Brooke Waggoner (with Timbre)

2011
Deerhoof
The Book of Right On
The Dear Hunter
The Besnard Lakes/Malajube
East of the Wall/Iron Thrones/Earthrise

2012
Menomena/PVT

2013
Field Mouse

2014
Agalloch
NOMIA
The Red Paintings

2015
Bubblemath 
The Dear Hunter/CHON
Mew/The Dodos

2017
Bubblemath

Extreme Metal Bands and Breakups (As of early August 2017)

Not sure how long this will be, but with the breakup of Spawn of Possession yesterday, it adds again to the list of extreme Metal bands I love who have broken up.

Spawn of Possession
Textures
Agalloch
Cynic

and the other name that comes to mind is Vektor who are not technically broken up, but if I recall 4 of the 5 members left, so in many ways, they feel like they are also done, or may reinvent themself, i dunno.

The hope comes to  mind when these bands break up, is at least to be curious what some of the members end up doing next. Solo stuff, or new bands. The members of Agalloch have done that anyway.

I guess I'm curious to find out what the guys in SoP will do now, especially since it sounded like they had been working on a new album. Maybe some of that material will come out in 1 or more forms or another.

I guess not Metal, but I look at the breakup of Oceansize in 2011, and what Mike Vennart has done since, to fill that void. In other words, I do hope the members of these bands do create new music and bring in work that I loved at least I enjoy if not love that is like the music they made with those bands.

The tough part often is though, it often isn't as good. But every situation is different, so I guess only time will tell.

I just hope that list above doesn't continue to grow anytime soon, but if it does, it does bring up the belief about music and obscure/cult-level artists just can't be expected to last for decades (or even 1 decade I suppose).

Or the other thought I often have is when one of these bands breaks up, I'd love to see a band from the past like Necrophagist, return (they haven't ever "officially" broken up, but their last album was in 2004. Their lack of recordings even beats Tool in that way).

Iron Maiden COMING TO MINNESOTA FINALLY!

Strib Story

June 16th, 2017 @ XCel Energy Center

Not that I can claim to be a HUGE fan or anything, but I do enjoy some of their music, and the big thing about this is they have flown over our town on an extensive number of tours. Their last show here I thought I saw was in the year 2000.

Why? probably MONEY i.e. Maiden's people wanted more than the promoters were willing to pay, etc.

Which sucks, but who knows how many other reasons (conflicts in venues, routing, pkg tours, etc).

I may try and go, but I am happy for those who love them and have never been able to travel to see them.

It is the Book of Souls tour, which I checked out and enjoyed moments of (I felt it was quite long and repetitve at times, but I also just take to much of Maiden's music in that way, thus don't expect tons different kinds of sound, or even songs).

Also Ghost opens.

To add to this, along with the likes of Agalloch (RIP) and Godspeed You Black Emperor, at least some of the artists who seem to fly over my hometown for many years/tours (Porcupine Tree as well, but then Steven Wilson came back twice on his solo tour at least), it holds hope for some other artists like The Reign of Kindo and Imogen Heap for me to finally get to see, without having to spend a bunch of cash to travel for. Although Marillion, I guess I may always assume they will never come here. 

But then again..never say never..
 

Sculptured - The Liminal Phase (2016-2017)

Brave Words Story

Some very good information. Don says it's going to be more of a mixture of Embodiment and Apollo Ends. Some ex-members of Agalloch are involved, which doesn't surprise me too much, but still adds intrigue.

I hope they use samples again and piano, but regardless, it's been what seems like forever since 2008's Embodiment.

Man, I cannot wait to hear something from them again.


The band will gradually begin recording over the next few months, with a release date tentatively set for early 2017.

“At The Margins Of Light”
“Living Deliberately”
“State Of Exception”
“The Ordeal Of Undecidability”
“Only Shame Can Save Us”

AGALLOCH: Rest in Peace

Rest in Peace Agalloch. I suppose I'm happy I got to see them once, and it may mean a new Sculptured album soon.

Also rather ironic how this is announced on a Friday afternoon, often when I associate my favorite release of theirs, the lovely The White EP.

Maybe I'll add more soon about this, but on the surface, this still sucks. A reunion though I would hardly think would be impossible down the road.

Facebook

Following 20 years, 5 full length albums, many tours around the world, and numerous other recordings, John Haughm and the rest of the band (Don Anderson, Jason Walton, and Aesop Dekker) have parted ways. What the future holds for the separate parties remains undetermined. We collectively thank all of our fans across the world. There are also way too many other people to thank who made this band possible. You know who you are.

Godspeed You Black Emperor finally coming (back) to MN 2/11/16

http://first-avenue.com/event/2016/02/gybe

Chalk this one up in with Agalloch-finally-playing-in-Minnesota back in 2014. I'm not sure why finally they will be coming (back) to Minnesota after an extensive number of tours that did not hit my hometown,

Link
Setlist.fm shows they played in Minnesota twice, in 2003 in the First Avenue Mainroom and then in 1999 at the 400 Bar.

So, I did go down to The Electric Fetus tonight and somewhat surprising, managed to get a ticket for the upcoming February 11th, 2016 concert also at First Avenue's Mainroom.

How the show will be? I've seen mixed reviews of them live, but often they have next to no crowd interaction and may kind of take the *Shoegaze* approach of looking down on the stage while performing. But, they have included Video screens I guess which adds to their bleak, moody, style of atmospheric rock.

Now, for this upcoming show, if they end up playing a lot of (even only just) their new album, I may not be all that engaged because of the percentage of it that is methodical droney/doomy stuff. I honestly struggled with getting through Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress without being bored to tears.

So, I guess I'll see. But at least I'll be able to check them off my Bucket List finally, although whether it becomes clear why they finally managed to return here after X-number of tours, I may never learn. Maybe they were offered more $? Routing? Someone new at First Avenue likes them?

Now only if the likes of Faith No More, Imogen Heap and The Reign of Kindo come play here, my Bucket List may be able shrink even more.

Also on a sidenote, while browsing at The Electric Fetus, I saw a couple of Vinyls I have been looking for, for quite awhile. For one, Black Mountain's In the Future (I have seen some of their earlier records on Vinyl many times, but not that one, the 1 record I really like from them). And of course Rush's Presto (along with their entire 90's catalog), which just came in on 180-g remastered, etc with the rest of the Rush catalog in 2015.

I was awfully tempted, but decided to wait given I already was buying my Godspeed ticket. Raincheck, although I would ideally still want a 1st pressing of Presto, but other than Ebay, I question if it'll happen unless someone sells theirs for a copy of the new printing.

Agalloch - The Serpent & the Sphere (2014)

5/5/14 7:30AM

Stream per NPR

http://www.npr.org/2014/05/04/308273140/first-listen-agalloch-the-serpent-the-sphere

Again, pretty head-scratching why National Public Radio ends up with an exclusive stream. I suppose I'd rather see them have it instead of likes of the hipster-taste makers like P4K get it, but still the very idea just seems silly and out of place. Maybe they'll also get an exclusive stream when the new Ne Obvliscaris comes out later this year? lol.



3/18/14 5:07PM-3/19/14 11:50AM

US Release May 13th.

link



01. "Birth And Death Of The Pillars Of Creation"
02. "(Serpens Caput)"
03. "The Astral Dialogue"
04. "Dark Matter Gods"
05. "Celestial Effigy"
06. "Cor Serpentis (The Sphere)"
07. "Vales Beyond Dimension"
08. "Plateau Of The Ages"
09. "(Serpens Cauda)"



New track "Celestial Effigy."...digging the last couple of minutes namely. Kind of par for the course for these guys sans the lack of samples.

Sorry P4K, lol.


1/31/14 2:05PM
more to put in later perhaps, but this should be pretty sweet. Samples included hopefully.

https://www.facebook.com/AgallochOfficial/posts/592940717459352

...and for the Europeans...

We are very proud and honored to announce that AGALLOCH will be working with us as the European partner for their new album. 
Their highly anticipated fifth full-length album "The Serpent & The Sphere" will be released on May 16th (Germany) and May 19th (Europe) via Eisenwald. 

Profound Lore Records will handle the North American release, which is set for May 13th.

Photo by Veleda Thorsson.

Finally an Agalloch Tour COMES TO MINNESOTA!

I am rather happy to finally get to see these guys after I imagine over a decade of touring where they failed to come to Minnesota. Although I've only been a fan for about 7 or 8 years admittedly.

But I can suspect why they are here isn't due to the fanbase here, it has to do with with the PROMOTERS and the nauseating process of sites like Pitchfork talking about Agalloch now.

It shouldn't take that, and in fact, the crowd I fear will include more of the hipster/pitchfork quotient that I am not crazy about. But, I guess beggars can't be..you know.

Because the fact is, they have toured a bunch of times over the last few years even, playing in Nebraska of all places, and Chicago of course, but not in Minnesota. But from memory, Agalloch wasn't on Pitchfork's radar at that point.

Blech, o well. I am still looking forward to this, and it being at The Triple Rock 2 days before my birthday no less.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152368234213606&set=a.175868423605.122546.165442118605&type=1&stream_ref=10

We are pleased to announce the confirmed first leg of our “Serpens In Culmination” US tour this summer. There is one date that is yet to be manifested but we will announce that as soon as it is confirmed. We are also working on a West coast run.

5.16 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater (w/Lasher Keen, Sedan)
5.17 - Seattle, WA @ Highline (w/YOB, Wounded Giant)
5.23 - Baltimore, MD (Maryland Deathfest)
6.18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock (w/Obsidian Tongue, Blood and Sun)
6.19 - Madison, WI @ High Noon (w/Obsidian Tongue)
6.20 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie's (w/Obsidian Tongue)
6.21 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballrom (w/Obsidian Tongue)
6.22 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival (w/Obsidian Tongue)
6.23 - Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree (w/Vex)
6.24 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl (w/Vex)
6.25 - Tampa, FL @ Orpheum (w/Vex)
6.26 - Savannah, GA @ Jinx (w/Vex, Blackrune)
6.27 - Raleigh, NC @ King's Barcade (w/Vex)
6.28 - Springfield, VA @ Empire (w/Vex)
6.29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts (w/Jex Thoth)
6.30 - New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza (w/Jex Thoth)
7.01 - Boston, MA @ Brighton (w/Jex Thoth, Obsidian Tongue)
7.02 - Montreal, QC @ La Salla Rosa (w/Jex Thoth)
7.03 - Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks (w/Jex Thoth, Musk Ox)
7.04 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House (w/Jex Thoth)
7.05 - Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theater (w/Jex Thoth)
TBA - TBA
7.08 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theater

Vektor: 2012 Summer Tour

As I posted on mp.com:

Sucks to be a fan and live in Minnesota, but damn it must be nice if you're hailing from spots like Warren, Michigan Lincoln, Nebraska and Idaho Falls, Idaho, LOL. So typical, but then again, if they played MN it would likely be at Station 4, which does not have Air Conditioning course, thus , a Sauna.

But still, like with Agalloch, the promoters in Minnesota's heads are firmly stuck up their asses's with this one. I'd love to see them, but unlikely on this, possibly their 1st extensive US Tour. Hopefully it won't be their last.

Agalloch - Faustian Echoes [EP] (2012)

6/26/12 11:35AM




Stream-able



http://agalloch.bandcamp.com/track/faustian-echoes

6/20/12 6:30PM


So this new EP is what they are supporting on this tour, not surprising. What is kind of annoying though is in order to get a copy, you actually have to attend one of these shows, lol. THANKS!

It does say hard copies will be made available in the mail after the tour, which is the 2nd week of August. Hopefully SOON after, assuming the EP will be worth purchasing.

I wouldn't be all that upset about that fact, but the fact The White EP is now out of print (hopefully there will be enough demand soon for it to get reprinted), and the lame fact the promoters in Minnesota had their heads up their ass's by not finding a way to bring them here, and thus, they end up playing a show in the middle of bumfucknowhere/Omaha, Nebraska.

that being said, along with The White, 2010's Marrow of the Spirit is another recent favorite of mine and others, I can only expect something cool with this EP.

Hopefully the usual artwork and location to find it should be included hopefully sooner rather than later.

facebook link from June 12th

AGALLOCH: U.S. Tour Dates Announced
Band Set To Release Faustian Echoes EP
“We fumed and screamed in our mountain nook, mad drunken Americans in the mighty land. We were on the roof of America and all we could do was yell, I guess—across the night, eastward over the Plains…” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road


Portland musical enigmas AGALLOCH are pleased to announce a month-long bout of live performances this summer. Slated to commence on July 11 in Portland, Oregon, the tour will include a nightly rotating set list featuring both new and early material with stage times anticipated to be between 90 – 120 minutes. The band will be joined by TAURUS featuring Stevie Floyd of Dark Castle and Ashley Spungin (formerly of Purple Rhinestone Eagle) as well as various local openers throughout the journey, all hand-selected by members of AGALLOCH. Comments the band in a collective statement: “We are excited by TAURUS’ experimental and challenging music and feel they are a perfect fit for us. We have carefully selected local openers whose music fits the environment of an AGALLOCH show. Where there are no openers selected, we will play nearly 120 minutes. We are all personal fans of the openers and encourage everyone to show up early to see them.”


This tour will also mark the release of AGALLOCH’s recently recorded EP Faustian Echoes a mammoth twenty-minute epic released through the band’s own imprint, Dammerung Arts. This EP was recorded at Jackpot Studio in Portland, Oregon with acclaimed engineer Billy Anderson (MELVINS, SLEEP, NEUROSIS) at the helm. It was mixed by Anderson and mastered by Justin Weis (LUDICRA, HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE) at Trakworx in San Francisco.


Though stream and digital download options will be available in the coming weeks, the LP and CD versions will only be available at the shows during the dates on the tour and will be available via mailorder after the tour.

AGALLOCH Summer Tour 2012
w/ Taurus

Wed 7/11 in Portland, OR at Branx w/Eight Bells
link

Thu 7/12 in Seattle, WA at the Crocodile w/Eight Bells
link

Fri 7/13 in Vancouver BC at the Rickshaw w/Eight Bells
link

Sat 7/14 in Spokane, WA at The A Club w/Eight Bells
link

Mon 7/16 in Bozeman, MT at Zebra
link

Tue 7/17 in Denver, CO at Bluebird Theater w/Velnias
link

Wed 7/18 in Omaha, NE at Waiting Room w/Velnias
link

Thu 7/19 in Milwaukee, WI at Miramar Theater
link

Fri 7/20 in Chicago, IL at Reggie's
link

Sat 7/21 in Ann Arbor, MI at Blind Pig w/Musk Ox
link

Sun 7/22 in Cleveland, OH at Beachland Ballroom
link

Mon 7/23 in Toronto, ON at Opera House w/Musk Ox
link

Tue 7/24 in Montreal, QC at Petit Campus w/Musk Ox
link

Wed 7/25 in Boston, MA at Middle East
link

Thu 7/26 in Brooklyn, NY at Williamsburg Music Hall w/Musk Ox
link

Fri 7/27 in Philadelphia, PA at Underground Arts
link

Sat 7/28 in Springfield, VA at Empire
link

Sun 7/29 in Raleigh, NC at King's Barcade
link

Tue 7/31 in Tampa, FL at Orpheum
link

Wed 8/01 in Atlanta, GA at The Earl
link

Thu 8/02 in Birmingham, AL at Bottletree w/Pallbearer
link

Fri 8/03 in New Orleans at One Eyed Jack's w/Pallbearer
link

Sat 8/04 in Dallas, TX at La Grange w/Maleveller
link

Sun 8/05 in Austin, TX at Red 7
link

Wed 8/08 in Phoenix, AZ at Rhythm Room
link

Thu 8/09 in San Diego, CA at The Casbah w/Author & Punisher
link

Fri 8/10 in Los Angeles, CA at Echoplex w/Oskoreien
link

Sat 8/11 in San Francisco, CA at Great American Music Hall
link

AGALLOCH info:
For sixteen years the Pacific Northwest group AGALLOCH has defined what it means to combine influences from a variety of musical genres into one brooding, colossal, and cinematic sound that provides the soundtrack to existential themes concerning man, nature, loss, and death. It has been said that AGALLOCH is to heavy metal what Ingmar Bergman is to cinema.

After two demo releases in the late ‘90s the band released three full-length albums: Pale Folklore (1999), The Mantle (2002), and Ashes Against The Grain (2006). The Mantle has since been heralded as a classic for having been one of the first albums to combine elements from black metal, neo-folk, progressive rock, post-rock, and ambient music. The influence of this record can be seen in many so-called “post-black metal” bands today.
In 2008 AGALLOCH began re-releasing their demos, B-sides, and EPs under their own Dammerung Arthouse label. In 2010 their fourth album Marrow of the Spirit made number one on numerous critic’s top ten lists. In between each of these full-lengths the band pushed on the flexible boundaries they had developed around themselves through a series of EPs that found the band experimenting with post-rock/instrumental rock (The Grey, 2004), neo-folk/psychedelic folk (The White, 2008) and most recently Faustian Echoes (2012) released through Dammerung Arts.

AGALLOCH has earned a reputation for explosive and emotional live performances. They have sold out tours across Europe and the U.S. and have played a variety of major festivals including: Roadburn, Inferno, and Scion, among others. The band takes special care constructing the environment of each and every show with wood, incense, and imagery taken directly from their home in the Northwest. Such care makes an AGALLOCH show more than just a typical heavy metal concert.

https://www.facebook.com/AgallochOfficial
http://www.agalloch.org/index.htm

Agalloch - 2012 North American Summer Tour

It's great and everything that they are doing maybe their most extensive American Tour ever, but given there's no date for Minneapolis or St.Paul, I can't help but remember how naive the promoters in my hometown are about Metal and progressive Metal if the band isn't named Dream Theater or Opeth.

Agalloch have even become somewhat HIPSTER/PITCHFORK/NPR APPROVED, lol.

Of course there are dates in Chicago and Milwaukee, but also OMAHA, NEBRASKA???? I'm sure their fan base is enormously higher than what we have here in Minnesota, it was an obvious preference, lol.

O well, odds are even if we had a date, it'd be at Station 4, in the middle of the Summer which of course is a SAUNA without any air-conditioning.

That likely being the case, I would still like to see these guys live someday, and meet Don Anderson among others. Maybe talk to him about Sculptured, etc. But unless something changes or falls through, it'll have to be on another tour. Perhaps in the Fall or Winter if Station 4 is the venue, which at least with a lack of AC there then, it's not quite as sweat inducing an environment. Although the lack of AC is hardly the only issue with Station 4, but it remains the biggest issue still.

Agalloch does have a new EP coming this year titled Faustian Echoes which I'm looking forward to, but I still would trade seeing them live for getting to hear that right now.

Facebook announcement

“We fumed and screamed in our mountain nook, mad drunken Americans in the mighty land. We were on the roof of America and all we could do was yell, I guess—across the night, eastward over the Plains…” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road

AGALLOCH will embark on a full US tour this summer. We will be playing the following dates:

Wed 7/11 in Portland, OR at Branx w/Eight Bells
Thu 7/12 in Seattle, WA at the Crocodile w/Eight Bells
Fri 7/13 in Vancouver BC at the Rickshaw w/Eight Bells
Sat 7/14 in Spokane, WA at The A Club w/Eight Bells
Sun 7/15 - TBA
Mon 7/16 - TBA
Tue 7/17 in Denver, CO at Bluebird Theater
Wed 7/18 in Omaha, NE at Waiting Room
Thu 7/19 in Milwaukee, WI at Miramar Theater
Fri 7/20 in Chicago, IL at Reggie's
Sat 7/21 in Ann Arbor, MI at Blind Pig w/Musk Ox
Sun 7/22 in Cleveland, OH at Beachland Ballroom
Mon 7/23 in Toronto, ON at Opera House w/Musk Ox
Tue 7/24 in Montreal, QC at Petit Campus w/Musk Ox
Wed 7/25 in Boston, MA at Middle East
Thu 7/26 in Brooklyn, NY at Williamsburg Music Hall w/Musk Ox
Fri 7/27 in Philadelphia, PA at Underground Arts
Sat 7/28 in Springfield, VA at Empire
Sun 7/29 in Raleigh, NC at King's Barcade
Mon 7/30 - OFF
Tue 7/31 in Tampa, FL at Orpheum
Wed 8/01 in Atlanta, GA at The Earl
Thu 8/02 in Birmingham, AL at Bottletree w/Pallbearer
Fri 8/03 in New Orleans at One Eyed Jack's w/Pallbearer
Sat 8/04 - TBA
Sun 8/05 in Austin, TX at Red 7
Mon 8/06 - OFF
Tue 8/07 - OFF
Wed 8/08 - TBA
Thu 8/09 in San Diego, CA at The Casbah w/Author & Punisher
Fri 8/10 - TBA
Sat 8/011 in San Francisco, CA at Great American Music Hall

We will continue to update this list as dates/venues and opening acts are confirmed.

Joining us for main support will be TAURUS (featuring Stevie Floyd of DARK CASTLE & Ashley Spungin ex-PURPLE RHINESTONE EAGLE). We are excited by their experimental and challenging music and feel they are a perfect fit for us: www.facebook.com/TAURUSISDUST

This tour will mark the release of our recently recorded EP “Faustian Echoes” on both LP and CD. We have taken great care in the design of this release. Sometime before the tour we will have both a streaming and digital download option available. However, the LP and CD versions will only be available at the shows during the dates on the tour and will be available via mail order after the tour.

We will be adding material (both new and old) to our set list and depending on stage time we anticipate playing between 90-120 minutes. The set will rotate each night. We have carefully selected local openers whose music fits the environment of an Agalloch show. Where there are no openers selected, we will play nearly 120 minutes. We are all personal fans of the openers and encourage everyone to show up early to see them.

We will have a variety of merchandise for sale including: 2 new shirt designs, our back catalog, “The Demonstration Archive,” “Marrow of the Spirit” vinyl, a tour poster by Stevie Floyd, original photographic prints by Veleda Thorsson, and various other odds and ends.

NOCTIS V METAL FEST APPEARANCE in Calgary, AB

We are further pleased to announce that we will appear at the Noctis V Metal Fest in Calgary, AB on Sat 9/29

We will post further news and updates via our Official Facebook:

www.facebook.com/AgallochOfficial

and Twitter:

@AgallochBand

Opeth - Heritage (2011) (1.0)

7/27/11 9:20AM
I know I'm almost a day late, but I didn't see anything about it yesterday somehow. But for those like me who didn't see it yet, here's 1st single "The Devil's Orchard":



Or Go Here to listen



6/1/11 12:20PM



01. Heritage
02. The Devil's Orchard
03. I Feel The Dark
04. Slither
05. Nepenthe
06. Haxprocess
07. Famine
08. The Lines In My Hand
09. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth


5/25/11 11:37AM-5/26/11 2:02PM

press release

OPETH ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM DETAILS

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Posted on May 26, 2011
OPETH, one of the most revered and respected bands in metal, release ‘Heritage’, their third album for Roadrunner on September 19th. The first video and single will be for the track 'The Devil’s Orchard'. ‘Heritage’ follows up 2008’s ‘Watershed’ and 2005’s ‘Ghost Reveries’, each of which brought the forward-thinking, genre-bending band some of the best reviews of their career.

Opeth frontman and guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt weighed in on ‘Heritage’, saying, "It will be our 10th album/observation. I dig it; we all do. In fact, it feels like I've been building up to write for, and participate on an album like this since I was 19."

Åkerfeldt went a little deeper and described the music contained within ‘Heritage’, saying, "It's quite intense at times in some 'old' murky way, and quite beautiful and stark at times, if I may say so myself. It's obvious I'm going to say nice things about it since I wrote basically the whole piece, but I guess it will raise a few eyebrows and it certainly is an acquired taste. I think you'll need a slightly deeper understanding of our music as a whole to be able to appreciate this record. I've realized my influences for this album are so diverse that I can't really say what it sounds like. If I can compare it to any other band, it would have to be Opeth, but it's different from the stuff we've done before. I've listened a lot to Alice Cooper for the last year, yet I can't say it sounds like 'No More Mr Nice Guy'. I hope you'll like it once you hear it."

The album was produced by Åkerfeldt and mixed along with labelmate and friend, Porcupine Tree frontman/guitarist Steven Wilson. Longtime collaborator Travis Smith also worked with Åkerfeldt to create, design and execute the album’s artwork.

Track listing for ‘Heritage’ is as follows:

Heritage
The Devil's Orchard"
I Feel the Dark"
Slither
Nepenthe
Haxprocess
Famine
The Lines in My Hand
Folklore
Marrow of the Earth

‘Heritage’ will be released in several configurations that will certainly ignite the interest of Opeth’s legion of fans, known for their passion for collecting and collectibles. The album will be released as a standard version, as a special edition loaded with extras, as a box set exclusive to the bands own official Omerch webstore and as a double vinyl LP. Something for every Opeth fan!

Meanwhile, Opeth will be appearing at the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth Park on Sunday 10th July.


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and bmouth


Swedish progressive metallers OPETH will release their tenth album, "Heritage", on September 20 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was produced by OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and was recorded earlier this year at Atlantis studios (formerly Metronome studios) in Stockholm. Mixing duties were handled by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE) and Åkerfeldt. Longtime collaborator Travis Smith also worked with Åkerfeldt to create, design and execute the album's artwork.

"Heritage" will be released in several configurations that will certainly incite the interest of OPETH's legion of fans, known for their passion for collecting and collectibles. The album will be released as a standard version; as a special edition loaded with extras; as a box set exclusive to the Roadrunner and the band's own official Omerch webstore; and as a double LP. There is something for every OPETH fan, thanks to this variety of options.

Commented Åkerfeldt, "It will be our 10th album/observation. I dig it; we all do. In fact, it feels like I've been building up to write for and participate on an album like this since I was 19."

Åkerfeldt went a little deeper and described the music contained within "Heritage", saying, "It's quite intense at times in some 'old' murky way, and quite beautiful and stark at times, if I may say so myself.

"It's obvious I'm going to say nice things about it since I wrote, basically, the whole piece, but I guess it will raise a few eyebrows and it certainly is an acquired taste.

"I think you'll need a slightly deeper understanding of our music as a whole to be able to appreciate this record.

"I've realized my influences for this album are so diverse that I can't really say what it sounds like.

"If I can compare it to any other band, it would have to be OPETH, but it's different from the stuff we've done before.

"I've listened a lot to ALICE COOPER for the last year, yet I can't say it sounds like 'No More Mr. Nice Guy'.

"I hope you'll like it once you hear it."

"Heritage" track listing:

01. Heritage
02. The Devil's Orchard
03. I Feel The Dark
04. Slither
05. Nepenthe
06. Haxprocess
07. Famine
08. The Lines In My Hand
09. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth

OPETH will embark on a seven-week, headline tour of the U.S. Dates will be announced imminently.




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We can exclusively reveal that the new Opeth album will be titled 'HERITAGE'. The record is due for release through Roadrunner Records in September. More details to follow soon.


 title sounds pretty Opeth-like. I just hope it's better than Watershed.

edit: September 20th is the Street Date.

11/19/10 1:37AM


Thread from the Unofficial Opeth Forum

"8 new songs for next Opeth-album, Metronom Studio in the end of January

I just read an interview with Mikael Åkerfeldt in Scream Magazine #151 (Norway's biggest metal/hard rock-magazine). It featured very interesting news regarding the next album! According to Mikael Opeth have written 8 songs so far. They won't enter the studio before they have 15-20 songs ready. Opeth will enter the studio in the end of January. The studio they will use is Abba's old studio Metronom in Stockholm. Mikael wants to have a 70s-sound on the album, more precisely like the album had been released in 1978. Mikael mentioned that there are some very dark tones on the new material. One song is a tribute to Ronnie James Dio. This song might be on the album, but maybe not on the regular edition. "

70's vibe? Deep Purple meets Dio meets Black Sabbath meets Camel? (just thinking about Mikael's taste and what can be Opethian.

hmm hopefully it'll end up better than how Pain of Salvation tried that. Watershed is a mediocre album by Opeth's standards. How much do people even talk about it now?..it sure doesn't have that 2008-Apes and Androids impact now nearly 3 years later.

But, I do want new Opeth :)

However, I'd be pretty surprised if this new album is better than the new Agalloch.

Sculptured: new music coming soon?

"progressive death metal feat: Agalloch members Don Anderson, Jason Walton (JWW), as well as Andy Winter (Winds, Age of Silence), and Dave Murray (Estradasphere, Deserts of Truan, Tholus). currently demoing new material..."

Oh man, I would be extremely happy to hear something new from Sculptured. I revisited Emboidiment a few months ago and remember why I enjoyed it as much as I did.

They do prog metal like it is supposed to be done.

Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit (2010)

previous entry

9/21/10 8:05PM



1. They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness [3:41]
2. Into The Painted Grey [12:25]
3. The Watcher’s Monolith [11:46]
4. Black Lake Nidstang [17:34]
5. Ghosts Of The Midwinter Fires [9:40]
6. To Drown [10:27]

Where the three predecessors to “Marrow Of The Spirit” (namely “Pale Folklore”, “The Mantle”, and the aforementioned “Ashes Against The Grain”) all differ from each other, the same can be applied with the new album as “Marrow Of The Spirit” is unlike anything AGALLOCH have ever produced before. This is also the first album to feature new AGALLOCH drummer Aesop Dekker (also in Profound Lore acts LUDICRA and WORM OUROBOROS) and features guest appearances by cellist Jackie Perez Gratz (GRAYCEON, GIANT SQUID, ASUNDER, AMBER ASYLUM), Jeffrey Neblock (VINDENSANG), and Nathan Carson (WITCH MOUNTAIN, TWO-TON BOA, SUNN 0)))).

Recorded and mixed on analog through the means of exquisite vintage gear within the months of July and August in Portland, Oregon at Audible Alchemy Studios with (FAUST guitarist) Steven Wray Lobdell and mastered and manifested in San Francisco, California at Trakworx Studios with Justin Weis (LUDICRA, SLOUGH FEG, HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE) the six time-stretching songs that encompass “Marrow Of The Spirit” each come across as their own distinct identities amongst themselves. At over an hour in length, “Marrow Of The Spirit” is AGALLOCH’s darkest, bleakest, most dense, detailed and aggressive album to date and in turn is the most accomplished album of their career.

To officially be released in North America Nov 23th through Profound Lore Records, tracklisting for “Marrow Of The Spirit” goes as follows:

1. They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness [3:41]
2. Into The Painted Grey [12:25]
3. The Watcher’s Monolith [11:46]
4. Black Lake Nidstang [17:34]
5. Ghosts Of The Midwinter Fires [9:40]
6. To Drown [10:27]

WEST COAST TOUR WITH ALLERSEELEN ANNOUNCED

In accordance with the release of “Marrow Of The Spirit”, AGALLOCH have announced a West Coast tour with Austrian industrial/neo-folk/martial ambient act Allerseelen. The tour begins on Dec 17th in AGALLOCH’s hometown of Portland, Oregon which will also serve as their record release show. The dates with Allerseelen go as follows:

December
12/17 – Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan (w/Aerial Ruin)
12/18 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s (w/Alda)
12/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ tba
12/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall (w/Dispirit)

so, it's good to find out about this. And Agalloch of course only put out new work every few years at best. Why it's dropping on November 23rd? probably has nothing to do with MARKETING because of course November is the bottom of the barrel when it comes to releasing a new album. Pretty much if your album doesn't come out by October, it's a squeeze-it-in thing if it's not

a) A Compilation
b) Live Album or DVD
C) a X-Mas/Holiday Themed thing

but Agalloch has never been a band whose concerned about marketing really. But most other bands would wait until January. However, from my personal standpoint, this is kind of like an early '11 record really. I mean it may leak in early November which may help, and while I dig The White EP a lot along with Sculptured, Don Anderson's side project, Agalloch have always been a mood band for me. Kind of like Sigur Ros in that way. But I can't claim to have invested as much time with them as some other *mood* bands to know. So maybe this new record will surprise me and be a late 2010 Album Index factor. But I'd hardly expect it to be.

Agalloch - 4th LP (2010 or 2011)

Agalloch myspace blog

Agalloch is proud to announce a renewed relationship with Profound Lore Records who will release our long-awaited 4th full length album. Profound Lore originally released our debut and sophomore albums on vinyl in 2005, including the amazing wooden sleeve edition of “Pale Folklore.” The artistic attitude and level of integrity from Profound Lore is why we are extremely pleased to have them represent Agalloch.
The new album will be recorded throughout June and July, but we do not wish to make any concrete statements regarding a release date at this time.

really terrific news to find out this indeed will be released rather soon. The White EP from 2008 was wonderful. Their full lengths have been rather good, mostly for what they are; but given the time and coming off The White, I am rather optimistic about this album. It's also encouraging to hear John mention they have *neglected* touring the US. Which hopefully will lend them to playing more concerts in their native country soon.

Agalloch - The Silence Of Forgotten Landscapes (DVD 2009)

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1 Limbs 9:51
2 Falling Snow 9:38
3 As Embers Dress the Sky 8:04
4 Dead Winter Days 7:51
5 I Am the Wooden Doors 6:10
6 In the Shadow of Our Pale Companion 14:44
7 Not Unlike the Waves 9:16
8 Bloodbirds 6:21

AGALLOCH - The Silence Of Forgotten Landscapes (DVD)
First-ever DVD from the mighty Agalloch. The main feature of this DVD is a show recorded on March 29, 2008 in Belgium -- eight tracks culled from the band's three albums to date, totaling over 70 minutes. Features another 50 minutes of extra material, which includes about 10 minutes of original music written and performed by John Haughm. [By request of the band, $2.50 of each DVD sale will be donated to a nature preservation society that protects parts of northern Belgium and southern Holland.]

the lack of buzz about this along with some comments on rym have me kind of wary about buying it. Plus nothing from "The White."

Still, I've never seen them, the price being $18.49 ain't too high, I may consider picking this up soon, depending on if my financial status improves.

The Wicker Man

These are a couple of a handful of reviews I mean to add here in the next few days/weeks as I'm starting to consume a fair amount of new films now.

My background with "The Wickerman" is this. I know a fella on some message boards who goes by that screen-name for one, but if I'm not mistaken, he takes it from the song that Iron Maiden wrote. Perhaps the song itself was inspired/named-after the movie or story.


The band Agalloch released an EP earlier this year titled "The White" which takes samples from it. Very folky, dreamy, acoustic. It's really a moving album in fact, and it certainly always made me curious of the source of the samples until I found out they were taken from that 1974 picture, which honestly, reminded of something taken from The Twilight Zone or perhaps The Outer Limits. Even Mysterious Island..when the sample referred to an island, pagans, and a heathen.

Well I happen to be a pretty big fan of Christopher Lee. Mainly a nostalgia and lover of the british "Hammer Series" Dracula pictures. Many others, along with Peter Cushing. He always commands a presence on screen.

Cutting to the chase. I finally saw the 1974 supposed *Horror Classic* which I rented for Halloween. The best things I can say about it is, I liked it more than the remake (not surprisingly), the performances were good from Lee, Edward Woodward (who may be best known for playing the lead role in the 80's crime-drama "The Equalizer"), Ingrid Pitt, and Britt Ekland who among many of the female cast, is hardly shy for the camera (hehe).

The biggest criticism I have are about it is

a) What was up with ALL THE MUSIC? I felt like I was watching a Ken Russell film at times, lol. I mean I guess part of the intent of the director was to make it creepy, in a subtle, lack-of-a-sense-of-reality sort-of-way. I guess. But I'm sure I'm not the only one who kind of got lost watching girls sing while naked over bonfires. And at the same time, I think Woodward's meltdown at them also added to it's lack of suspense.

b) I wished they'd shown more background on how Sgt Howie or whoever on the mainland got word of the girl's disappearance in the 1st place. I suppose it's not something they care about, but logically, it doesn't make a ton of sense for them to call the cops to search for a girl in an entirely different portion of land. I mean, part of it is the society there, but my 1st reaction if I were receiving the notice would be to ask if they have any authorities on the island 1st and foremost for that sort of thing. But that would defeat the purpose of the whole story of course.

I also didn't love how un-poetic the ending was. Had I written it, I'd have had Woodward escape out of the Wicker Man and somehow caused Christopher Lee's "Lord Summerisle" to die either at the hands of the Wicker Man or just from shear shock. It definitely is a film that didn't include the most complete resolution. At the same time, Lee has claimed it's his best or favorite performance of his career (or it was the best film he was ever in, I forget exactly what the bio info said on the DVD)

7/10

Now the remake from '06 at least did give more background on the girl and the fact Nicholas Cage as the cop, comes over to see an old flame and learn it's his own daughter who became missing.

They did try to make it more suspenseful or horror-movie-like. Maybe the best or most creepy thing they had were these two twin ladies who really could have been the much older versions of the two creepy girls that are flashed so freakishly in Kubrick's "The Shining." I genuinely felt creeped out watching them; although the fact it was in daylight didn't help.

The other real head-scratcher that the filmmaker Neil LaBute put in this adaptation was this scene at the beginning with Cage on the highway stopping this lady and her daughter; which eventually leads to a Semi hitting them and Cage attempting but failing to save both the girl or the mother. They kept flashing back to it, which I thought could have worked well, but their never really was any explanation about the significance of it. Was that supposed to be his daughter, Rowan Woodward? (last name I imagine used a cameo sort-of to Edward from the original) Was the fire supposed to be a foreshadow for things to come? It really ended up just being a random event that gives you only your imagination as to what the point of that scene was.

The love story I guess added something, but I would agree with a lot of the comments and reviews online about it. Cage did a good enough job, it's just the material was so predictable and trying to be creepy just for the sake of it, that it didn't add much or have the out-of-left-field approach that the original at least did. At the same time, I probably wouldn't go as far as to think it's the worst movie this decade or anything. Some reviews totally panned it, and I guess for me, it was watchable at least, especially for someone who hadn't seen the original (although of course I would recommend seeing that one as well).

4/10